[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 29, 2000

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Guam 
village of Mangilao on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of 
Mayorship for the municipality. I would also like to pay tribute to 
four men who, through the past five decades, have devoted and dedicated 
a substantial portion of their lives towards service to the island of 
Guam and the village of Mangilao. The Honorable Jesus Cruz Periera, the 
Honorable Jesus dela Rosa Santos, the Honorable Nicolas Duenas 
Francisco, and the Honorable Nonito C. Blas are men who have made great 
contributions to the progress, growth and development of the village of 
Mangilao.
  Mangilao's first mayor, the Honorable Jesus C. Pereira was born in 
Hagatna, Guam on November 13, 1920--the son of Manuel Delgado and 
Josepha Leon Guerrero Cruz Pereira. He was educated at the Guam 
Institute and the Edmund S. Root Agricultural School and worked as a 
civil service employee for the United States Navy. In 1944, he enlisted 
in the Navy and served through 1950.
  Having been instrumental in the development of Mangilao into a 
separate municipality which was formerly part of the village of 
Barrigada, Mayor Pereira holds the distinction of having been elected 
as the first mayor to serve the village of Mangilao. His service 
commencing in 1950, the mayor went on to serve a total of 16 years in 
this post. During his tenure, he directed Mangilao's growth from a 
community of 700 to a full fledged village of 3,000 residents. In 
addition, Mayor Periera played a vital role in the establishment of 
facilities for the University of Guam, the Guam Community College and 
the Department of Public Health and Social Services within his village. 
Holding seniority over the men who have served as Mangilao village 
mayors, Mayor Pereira, to this day, continues to offer assistance and 
advice to the residents and leadership of the village of Mangilao.
  In 1968, the Honorable Jesus dela Rosa Santos became the second man 
to be elected mayor of Mangilao. He took office at a crucial time in 
the village's development. Mayor Santos immediately became his 
constituency's link to the Government of Guam enabling Mangilao to gain 
government services and basic infrastructure such as power, water and 
roads which were unavailable at the time. In addition, he was known for 
going above and beyond the prescribed duties of his office--dedicating 
his time and personal funds to needy constituents. As mayor, he was 
instrumental in enhancing public awareness to Federal Welfare 
Assistance and other programs designed to benefit eligible 
constituents.
  Born in Hagatna on November 16, 1923, Mayor Santos grew up in the 
village of Mongmong. He graduated from George Washington High School 
shortly after the end of the Second World War and commenced government 
service with the Records and Account Office. He was later employed by 
the Department of Land Management for sixteen years prior to his 
election as Mayor.
  After the end of his tenure as mayor in 1972, Mayor Santos worked in 
the private sector, initially for Ricky's Auto Company and later, in 
1973, for Citibank. Although he retired in 1984, he has been active in 
the area of agriculture and is known for imparting his knowledge of the 
traditional ways of farming and raising livestock. He remains a valued 
member of the community and has always been willing to contribute 
towards the benefit of the village of Mangilao.
  The Honorable Nicolas Duenas Francisco was born in the village of 
Mangilao on September 12, 1945--the son of Joaquin Cabrera Francisco 
and Angustia Tenorio Duenas. Popularly known as ``Nick,'' Mayor 
Francisco attended Price Elementary and San Vicente Middle School and 
graduated in 1964 from Tumon High School now known as John F. Kennedy 
High School. Prior to enlisting in the United States Army in 1966, he 
worked as an apprentice at an air engineering company, as a community 
worker for the Department of Public Health and Social Services, and as 
a youth counselor in the Juvenile Justice Division of the Superior 
Court of Guam. Nick served during the Vietnam War. In recognition of 
his valor and distinguished service, he was awarded the Bronze Star and 
the Purple Heart.
  In 1972, he successfully ran for Mayor of Mangilao. He went on to win 
re-elections for three consecutive terms. As mayor, he was able to 
secure over 2 million dollar's worth of capital improvement projects 
for his village. His many accomplishments include the construction of a 
baseball field, the establishment of the Mangilao Senior Citizens' 
Center, the completion of over fifty paved roadways, and the naming of 
over 200 streets within the village of Mangilao.
  He served as mayor until 1987 when he was appointed Deputy Director 
of Civil Defense/Guam Emergency Services Office by then Governor Joseph 
F. Ada. In addition to his continued involvement with the Guam Babe 
Ruth Baseball League and the Kiwanis Club, he continues to provide 
service to the community to this day as a Legislative Aide to the 
Honorable Mark Forbes, member of I'Liheslaturan Guahan.
  The current mayor of Mangilao, the Honorable Nonito C. Blas was born 
in Hagatna. Known to many as ``Nito,'' Mayor Blas attended Asan and 
Agana Elementary School before graduating from George Washington High 
School in 1957. He went on to enlist in the United States Navy. He 
served for 24 years and retired in 1980 at the rank of chief yeoman.
  Upon his retirement from the Navy, Nito returned to Guam and worked 
as an alternative sentencing officer for the Superior Court of Guam. In 
1988, he was appointed by then Governor Ada to serve in the vacated 
Mangilao mayor seat. In 1989, Nito was elected to the position which he 
has held for the past eleven years.
  Upon taking office, Mayor Blas continued his predecessor's commitment 
to capital improvement projects. His efforts have resulted in the 
repair and installation of guardrails along village roads, installation 
of street signs, flood control projects, sewer improvement projects, 
hazard elimination projects and the construction of community and 
recreational facilities.
  A member of several local civil organizations, Mayor Blas has been a 
very active member of the community. He has made substantial 
contributions towards the enhancement of youth activities and senior 
citizens programs in the village of Mangilao. As with his predecessors, 
Mayor Blas should be commended for his outstanding job in fostering the 
growth and successfully handling the rapid population expansion and 
ethnic diversity of Guam's cultural and population centers.
  On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the mayorship of the 
village of Mangilao, I congratulate the residents of this marvelous 
community and commend the remarkable mayors who, for the past fifty 
years, have labored, led and contributed to the growth and development 
of the village of Mangilao.

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